AkoFresh has reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing food security and reducing post-harvest losses across Ghana through the launch of a mobile cold storage trailer.
This innovative solution extends the organisation’s solar-powered cold storage model, offering flexible, on-demand cold chain services directly to farming communities, including those in remote and underserved areas.
The launch comes on the heels of AkoFresh’s recent accolade as the Most Innovative Development Project (MIDP) 2024 by the Global Development Network (Global Development Network).
Founder and CEO of AkoFresh, Mathias Charles Yabe, emphasised the significance of the initiative, highlighting its role in improving flexibility and accessibility for farmers to minimise losses.
“This mobile trailer allows us to meet farmers where they are and reduce losses at the most critical moments,” he noted.
The Accra-based agritech social enterprise is dedicated to combating post-harvest crop losses among smallholder farmers in Ghana and West Africa.
The company has successfully extended the shelf life of perishable produce from 3–5 days to up to 21 days through the use of solar-powered, off-grid cold storage technology.
This advancement provides farmers with more time to sell, increased incomes, and reduced food waste.
Mr Yabe noted the worrying impact of infrastructural deficiencies in Ghana and across sub-Saharan Africa, where farmers continue to lose significant portions of their produce.
“Despite producing enough food to feed communities, smallholder farmers in Ghana and across sub-Saharan Africa face a paradox: they lose between 40 to 60 per cent of perishable crops such as tomatoes, peppers, and leafy vegetables due to spoilage before reaching markets,” he said.
He stressed that this challenge is not due to production failures but infrastructure gaps.
“This is not due to production failures but infrastructure deficiencies. The lack of affordable, accessible cold storage means that produce harvested in the morning can become unsaleable by evening,” he added.
AkoFresh says its innovations have helped extend shelf life, reduce waste, empower farmers with stronger bargaining power, and contribute to a more stable food supply.
To date, the organisation has impacted over 10,000 people, reduced food waste emissions, and increased farmer incomes by up to 40 per cent.
The project has received support from the Global Development Network and the Ministry of Finance, Government of Japan, under the Global Development Awards Competition.
